As the summer season winds down and students around the area prepare to return to school, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is urging motorists to exercise extreme caution while driving through school zones and to be extra vigilant of school buses and children.
As a responsible and safety-conscious community, KYTC officials say it is essential for all drivers to adhere to the following guidelines to ensure the safety of our children:
1. Observe School Zone Speed Limits: Reduced speed limits are enforced in designated school zones to safeguard students crossing the roads or walking to and from school.
2. Stop for School Buses: It is critical to remember that state laws mandate drivers to stop when a school bus has activated its stop sign and red lights, indicating that children are boarding or disembarking the bus.
3. Stay Alert and Avoid Distractions: Always pay full attention to the road and avoid distractions such as mobile phones, eating, or other activities that take your focus away from driving. KYTC officials say a split-second distraction can have life-altering consequences.
4. Lookout for Pedestrians: Be watchful of children walking or biking to schools, especially at crosswalks and intersections. Drivers should yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and never pass other vehicles stopped at a crosswalk.
5. Plan Your Routes and Commute Time: Plan your daily commute, and allow yourself extra time to get to your destination knowing that school zones may cause traffic congestion during pick-up and drop-off times.
6. Educate Your Passengers: If you are a parent or guardian driving children to school, remind them of proper road safety rules, including the importance of using seat belts and staying inside the vehicle until it has come to a complete stop.
The first day of school for students in Caldwell County Public Schools is Wednesday, August 16.
